Saturday, 26 December 2015

Christmas Cookies Recipe Ideas

Christmas Cookies Recipe Ideas is a collection of some of the most delicious Christmas cookie recipes this Christmas(plus a little game to entertain you)!

Christmas cookies are traditionally sugar biscuits and cookies(though other flavours may be used based on family traditions and individual preferences) cut into various shapes related to Christmas.

Modern Christmas cookies can trace their history to recipes from Medieval Europe biscuits, which was when many modern ingredients such as cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, almonds and dried fruit were introduced into the west. By the 16th century Christmas biscuits had become popular across Europe, with lebkuchen being favoured in Germany and pepparkakor in Sweden, while in Norway krumkake were most beloved.

The earliest examples of Christmas cookies in the United States were brought by the Dutch in the early 17th century. Due to a wide range of cheap imported products from Germany between 1871 and 1906 following a change to importation laws, cookie cutters became available in American markets. These imported cookies cutters often depicted highly stylised images with subjects designed to hang on Christmas trees. Due to the availability of these utensils, recipes began to appear in cookbooks designed to use them. In the early 20th century, US merchants were also importing decorated lebkuchen cookies from Germany to be used as presents.

In Canada and the United States, since the 1930s, children have left cookies and milk on a table for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, though many people simply consume the cookies themselves. The cookies are often cut into such shapes such as trees, gingerbread men, snowflakes, candy canes, reindeer, and holly leaves.

December is the best time of year for indulging in dessert. 'Tis the season to satisfy your sweet tooth with one of these beautiful Christmas cookies..!